Its a tall order for this time of night Rosemary...but here goes...
Q :
How would you define a smallholder?A: Anyone who utilises land owned/rented by them to grow food or raise animals, either for their own consumption or for retail purposes, on a scale that is unlikely to generate full time employment of other people.
Q:
Do you call yourself a smallholder/do you think others call themselves smallholders?A: I am a smallholder and know many other people who would call themselves smallholders for the reasons given in the answer to the previous question.
Q:
Do you think there are certain groups within the definition - different types of smallholders (including what group you might fall into)?A: I would suggest there are three main groups, each of which would have subcategories for specialisation; they would be
Agricultural Smallholder - (someone who cultivates their land to produce food or plant stock). Sub category horticulture
Livestock Smallholder - (someone who utilises their land to breed or raise animals for food production). Sub categories Bovine, Porcine, etc
Generalist Smallholder - (someone who utilises their land to grow crops and raise animals for food production). I would classify myself as a Generalist Smallholder
Q: What motivated you to become a smallholder and continue to be one?
A: A desire to adopt a rural lifestyle which would enable my wife and I to indulge our passion for rare breed farm animals and locally produced foods. I/we remain smallholders because nothing we have ever done before has given us so much pleasure or reward. Our smallholding now incorporates a Farm Shop, which provides us with an outlet for our products and produce and returns a reasonable income; and my wife and I have become an integral part of the local community.
Q: What current issues do you face as a smallholder?
A: The same issues as any other business Finance, People, Resources and Time; never enough of either and a shortage of all!
Q: Do you have preferred ways of getting information, any trusted sources?
A: The internet, farming friends, specialists and other smallholders with similar or more experience than ourselves.
Q: What role do you think they play in the local community? (economy, sense of belonging, community feel)
A: Economically, it largely depends on what the smallholder does with the product/produce he/she produces; i.e. whether or not its for own consumption or retail a sense of belonging is again dependant on whether or not the smallholder actively seeks to be part of the community there is a place in every community for a smallholder, if he/she plays an active role within it.
Q: How do you safeguard the welfare of your animals?
A: By adhering to the DEFRA guidelines and animal welfare standards.
Q: What relationship do you have with vets? Close/trusted?
A: Personally, we enjoy a close and trusted relationship with our vet.
Q: How would you describe your attitudes/beliefs towards the environment?
A: My belief is that we should all do our utmost to sustain the environment and keep it in a clean and safe condition unfortunately large parts of our environment are being contaminated and/or destroyed by political mismanagement.
Q: Do you have a county parish holding number, receive the June Survey and/or claim single farm payments?
A: Yes to all of the above
Q: Are there any smallholder myths you think we need to bust?
A: That smallholders are all amateur hobbyists playing at being farmers!
Hope this helps
Farmer
